This year for the first time since I arrived in 1986, the hawthorns actually bloomed on schedule. We were able to celebrate Beltaine, the Celtic start of summer, on the afternoon of April 30. For those who don’t know what the fuss is about, Beltaine (or May Day) is the festival that begins the light half of the year for us Celtoids. Samhain (or Halloween) is the ancient Celtic festival of the beginning of the dark half of the year, or winter.

• Here is a bit more information about the festival;
• For those who missed it last Moonth an article about the Fire Festival of Beltaine
• Traditional Irish Beltaine customs
• May Day in Cornwall
• How to make May Butter

I did a sweat lodge ceremony recently with Grandmother Three Crow who works with indigenous elders here on Turtle Island. She travels to South America regularly to meet with elders there. I asked her what message they had that I could share and she said they ask that we visit the sacred sites of America and elsewhere, to keep the energies flowing and alive. She said its important to approach the sites with a good heart, not to bring anger or sadness to the sites, because they are placed on important energy grids for the planet and any emotions we bring to them get sent around the Earth.
I hope that everyone will take this on as a sacred mission, to prepare themselves emotionally and spiritually before approaching the sites. She said that even if a sacred site has been desecrated, covered with a road or otherwise disturbed, we should find one thing, a tree, a rock, some point of focus, and continue to offer prayers and good wishes to the energies of the site.
It is important that we find the sacred sites in our own areas and begin to caretake them with a good heart. I know of people in California and Ireland who are re-opening clogged sacred springs and holy wells. These sites need to be woken up with reverence and prayer. Some sites are well known such as the Great Serpent Mound, Chichenitza, the pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge, Newgrange, the Ring of brodgar in Scotland, etc.
Others are less known but equally valuable.

• Here is a site in Arkansas that might need some good energy;
  and a video about how to approach a site
  and another video about how to find ley lines

REVIEWS OF THE NEWEST BOOKS

• Aren Action has a nice review of the new novel, article 4, page 18

Article 4 Priestess of the Fire Temple A new novel by Ellen Evert Hopman Reviewed by Christopher Blackwell

This is the third book of Trilogy of novels, that are “Bardic teaching tales” by Ellen Hopman, about Ireland and the change from the power of the Druids to the power of the Christians from the second to fifth century. I have read and reviewed the first novel Priestess of the Forest on page 7 of our Imbolc 2008 issue of ACTION and her second novel The Druid Isle on page 8 of our Litha issue of our 2010 issue of ACTION.
In this latest novel we follow Aislinn the wild red haired daughter of the High King of the central Kingdom who still respects of the old ways. She is not loved by her Christian step mother, for the girl seems to refuse to be a proper princess aware of her high social position. She is more interested in learning from her Druid teachers about herbs and song. From her search for herbs, Aislinn often comes home disheveled and clothes dirty, embarrassing her socially proper stepmother and queen.
The queen is only interesting in making a suitable marriage for her own son and perhaps the future high king. At fourteen it comes time for her to be married for the good of the kingdom, to a young prince who is as uninterested in her. But she sets out to do her duty. She sets out to become a proper representative of her father and kingdom for the good of the kingdom, both that she loves and respects. Once again nothing goes as expected for she will be thrust out of the life she was sent to live, facing dangers and suspense on a mysterious journey to an unknown destination and a life she could not have imagined for herself, to help protect the knowledge of the Druids so that it might not disappear under the Christians.
Again we have a chance to learn of the Druid way of life with a bibliography of books covering the ideas explained and a glossary of Celtic names and ideas. The story is full of twists and turns that keep the reader interested and takes full advantage of Ms. Hopman’s years of practice as a Druid and herbalist.
Each book is a complete story itself, but do yourself a favor and read all three if you can.This book can be bought as either in paperback or as a kindle edition. You can buy this book direct from Ellen Hopman as a signed copy a personal note from the author at http://www.elleneverthopman.com/, from her online store, or online at Amazon.com, or from your local bookstore.Priestess of the Fire Temple ISBN-10: 0738729256 ISBN-13: 978-0738729251

A nice review of Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore came out in Sagewoman Magazine recently;

Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore
Are you interested in herbs, fairy lore, Scottish deities, or learning Gaelic? If so, this book will surely interest you. The author, Ellen Evert Hopman is not only a Master Herbalist but also a Druid Priestess, and Ellen proves her mettle in this fascinating book.
The book begins with a brief and informative review of Scottish history “Caledonia: A Thumbnail Ancient History,” which offers insight into the major groups of ancient Scotland such as the Picts, Britons, and Celts just to name a few. Reading about these different tribes and their history, one can picture how they lived. She also gives a solid grounding in what we know (and don’t) about the Druids.
The next chapter, “The Old Gods,” is very informative, especially to those with an interest in a Druidic path or Scots gods. But I’m leaving the best for last: Hopman’s extensive (one is tempted to say, exhaustive) chapter on herbs, with descriptions of well over one hundred plants, their uses (both medicinal and otherwise) and a variety of instructions — on making a poultice, tinctures and herbal salves for example — invaluable for the novice. For each entry, the plant’s common, Gaelic, and Latin names are listed along with which parts can be used and for which ailment. Many recipes are supplied, as well as cautions when they should be avoided (such as herbs to be avoided for pregnant women). This part of the book is my favorite, by far.
But the author isn’t finished yet; there are also chapters that discuss the sacred birds and animals, magical practices (including prayers, rituals and incantations. Plus a discussion of the distinction between Druids and Witches and descriptions of Scottish Quarter Days and Fire Festivals.

The last third of the book is dedicated to Elves, Spirits, Witches, Monsters and, naturally, the Fairies. Ms. Hopman gives a full listing of many different classes of creature imaginable.
Even the Appendix of this book is wonderful! If you have ever wondered how to pronounce words in Gaelic such as the Goddess * Airmidh, Ms. Hopman is here to help. I have read many books, websites, and articles that dealt with Druids, but no one ever covers this topic! I was able to laugh at myself when I realized the pronunciation of words that I thought was correct was totally off-base. I just bet the Fairies have had a good laugh at me during my lifetime trying to speak Gaelic, but no more. Fantastic work, Ms. Hopman, and thank you! Crystal Luna Rouge.
* (Airmidh – Ar-vey or Ar-vee)

Also see:
BOOK REVIEW IN ELECTRIC SCOTLAND (see page 5)
You can purchase the book from this website and get a signed copy and a personal note!
DRUID NEWS

• A song about the tree alphabet with some inspired banjo picking
• Why we should do ritual with kids
• Druidism, Paganism to be taught in British schools. Not everyone is happy…
• Make your own Celtic clothing

RELIGION NEWS

• The “Doctine of the Faith” (i.e. the Catholic Inquisition) goes after nuns who support health care, gays and feminism
• Russian Orthodox church condones ignorance of ancient scriptures

PAGAN NEWS

• Irish government will give legal status to Pagan weddings. According to tradition its bad luck to marry at Beltaine. Lughnasad (August 1) is the traditional time for weddings).
• Video about the Nazis and Paganism. Long but interesting. Bear in mind that the Nazis were overwhelmingly Christians, not Pagans.

ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS

• A Dolmen excavated in Wales
• Beer and bling in Iron Age Europe
• Indo-Europeans arrive in Europe – videos More videos…
• Dinosaur eggs found in Chechnya
• Did religion give birth to civilization, agriculture?
• Nice image of a Pictish harp. Note the cat at the bottom.
• Torc found in Northern Ireland
• Virtual tour of a Mesoamerican sacred site (Mexico, Jalisco)
• A cookbook of old stone age to Medieval recipes, based on soil samples
• Lucy was not alone…
• Ancient Lyre fragment found in Skye
• Irish sweat houses…yes, Europeans had them too.
• Dolmens near Carnac, Brittany

POLITICS/ETHICS

• Corporations no longer work for the good of society – how to turn that around

ARTS

• The Existential House Cat (video)
• Inflatable Stonehenge…I sooo want one!
• Spoken word…The Return of the Fairies

NATURE NEWS

• Monsanto and bee colony collapse
• Natural insect repellents
• Why trees matter
• “Natural pools” are swimming pools that use plants instead of chlorine to clean the water.
• Mugwort (Artemisia) an herb that opens the third eye….
• Cats and dolphins (I just had to include this one – thanks Bob!)

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• Find out about your surname

HEALTH NEWS

• Turmeric and cancer – a natural cure.
• Statins raise blood sugar and can CAUSE diabetes. With millions on Lipitor, Crestor, Vitorin and Simcor and similar drugs this could be a root cause of the current diabetes epidemic….Read more here…
• Cannabis cuts lung tumor growth in half….
• An article about some useful herbs

A happy summer to all!
PS if you like my website why not contact the web designer? Her address is at the bottom of each page!